Cubs could be closing in on Cuban OF Soler

Cuban sensation Yoenis Cespedes is expected to sign with the Marlins. (Getty Photo)

When the winter began, there were three major Cubans who could become free agents, and the Chicago Cubs could land two of them.

According to reports from the Dominican Republic, the Cubs soon could sign 19-year-old outfielder Jorge Soler after earlier getting 19-year-old pitcher Gerardo Concepcion.

The prize of the group was believed at first to be Yoenis Cespedes, but his star was tarnished by a bad showing in the Dominican winter league. He may be getting ready to sign with the Marlins after visiting Miami last week.

Soler, who has not officially been declared a free agent, may have met with Cubs executives while they were visiting their new academy earlier this month. One report had the Cubs willing to pay $27.5 million for an unknown number of years. They paid Conception $7 million, believed to be for three years.

Soler was less heralded than Cespedes, but is reported to have five-tool potential. He is 6-foot-3 and weighs just over 200 pounds.